Final Weekend---SIFF REPORT Jun 11-Jun 13

GRADE-----A

THUNDER SOUL--USA--A funk jazz high school band from the mid 1970's is reunited 35 years later when many of the musicians haven't played in years to honor their 92 year old band leader and create some new sounds in this energetic and upbeat documentary that had the audience cheering.
---------------

GRADE------A-

FAREWELL--France--Based on a fascinating true story, a French business man and a KGB colonel work together to smuggle out top-secret documents from Russia that will end the Cold War and hasten Russia's fall as a great super power in the 1980's, in an intense and absorbing thriller that uniquely shows the tension and strain this type of work has on their respective families.
----------------

GRADE ----B+

PROTECTOR--Czech Republic--Journalist tries to protect his spoiled, headstrong Jewish wife from harm in Prague during Nazi occupation in this provocative suspense drama. The final scenes in a movie theatre reminded me of the ironic finale of INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, but without the fantasy and humor that Tarentino injects in that story.
----------------

GRADE-----B

SAMSON AND DELILAH--Australia--Two impoverished Aboriginal teens escape from their small town when both are mistreated and struggle to make it in the big city. A very ethnocentric film with minimal dialogue and a slim plot, yet carries a powerful message.

LEAVING--France--Kristin Scott Thomas gives an incredibly intense performance as a desperate woman caught up in an affair of passion, turning her back on her family and husband and life. We've seen this tragedy played out before, but never quite this raw.

VENGEANCE--Hong Kong--An older chef, struggling with memory loss, hires a gang of criminals to seek revenge on the murder of his daughter's family. The film is photographed with elegant (and at times slow motion) skill--it creates a moody ambiance even when the bullets and blood are flying.

THE WEDDING CAKE--France--I enjoyed this trifle--an entertainingly typical "wedding" movie with the usual surprises, twists, laughs, tears, revelations......and limitations. A fun way to end SIFF for me.
------------------

GRADE----C

DIAMOND 13--France--Watchable but unmemorable police thriller that seemed to have too many coincidences, plot holes, and murky twists. Seen it all before, and better.



COMING SOON---SIFF wrap-up report.

ALSO COMING SOON---Next weekend SIFF Cinema will host a BEST OF THE FEST weekend with many great films playing Fri, Sat and Sun. Check SIFF.net for schedule and titles, which include some of my personal favorites--THE HEDGEHOG, LEAVES OF GRASS, HIPSTERS, NOWHERE BOY, CELL 211, WASTE LAND, CASTAWAY ON THE MOON and THE CONCERT and four others, also very good films TBA.